Discover Spokane

Riverfront Park isn’t just located in the heart of Spokane, it is the heart of Spokane.

The swath of green cutting through downtown along the Spokane River is typically packed with walkers, joggers and cyclists. It lets you know instantly what this town is all about - outdoor recreation.

“I get excited every time I go to Spokane,” said David Lawrence of Montana-based Pangaea River Rafting. “It has so much near town. The park. The trails. Everything in Spokane has an outdoor pop to it.”

When it comes to recreation, Spokane is best known for two events - Bloomsday and Hoopfest. In two weeks, about 50,000 runners are expected to converge on Spokane for Bloomsday, the state’s largest 12-kilometer run.

And June 27-28, 200,000 players and spectators are expected on the downtown streets for Hoopfest, the nation’s largest 3-on-3 basketball tournament.

“Nothing brings people in like those two events,” said Pam Scott of the Spokane Convention and Visitors Bureau.

But if you really want to get a feel for recreation in the area, you need to stick around after the event to play in the outdoors.

“In a lot of ways, Spokane is still undiscovered,” Lawrence said. “A lot of people outside of the area don’t know it, but the people who live there know it has exceptional rafting, exceptional climbing, exceptional mountain biking and hiking real close to town.”

Here’s what the locals suggest adding to any Bloomsday and Hoopfest itinerary:

RIVERSIDE STATE PARK

Riverside State Park is a sprawling 10,000-acre park on the west side of town that includes an off-road vehicle park, camping and hiking trails.

“It is a great place for mountain biking,” said Dave Breidenbach of Spoke N Sport, a bike shop.

“And it is a great place to go for a day hike,” said Kurt Perrigo of the Spokane REI. “Drive 10 minutes from downtown and you can be hiking.”

The park has 55 miles of trails, including 25 open for horseback riding.

The park is best known for the Bowl and Pitcher, large rock formations on the Spokane River.

Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge west of town near Cheney is a good place to view elk, coyotes, beavers and other animals. The refuge includes a five-mile driving tour, hiking trails and the 23-mile mostly unpaved Columbia Plateau Trail.

Breidenbach said the Centennial Trail is the best place to go cycling in Spokane. The paved trail stretches 37 miles along the Spokane River from Riverside Park to the Idaho border, where it links with the 18-mile North Idaho Centennial Trail.

The trail has two distinct parts. The portion east of town is more of an urban ride, he said. West of town the ride is more scenic, he said.

Bike rentals at Spoke N Sport are $30 per day and include a trail map.